Krauncha, Shaka, and Pushkara Dvipas

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.8.13.1)

नारद उवाच । शिष्टद्वीपप्रमाणं च वद सर्वार्थदर्शन । येन विज्ञातमात्रेण परानन्दमयो भवेत्

nārada uvāca | śiṣṭadvīpapramāṇaṁ ca vada sarvārthadarśana | yena vijñātamātreṇa parānandamayo bhavet

Narada said: Tell me, O seer of all truths, the extent of the remaining continents — merely by knowing which a person becomes filled with supreme bliss.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.8.13.2)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । कुशद्वीपस्य परितो घृतोदावरणं महत् । ततो बहिः क्रौञ्चद्वीपो द्विगुणः स्यात्स्वमानतः

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | kuśadvīpasya parito ghṛtodāvaraṇaṁ mahat | tato bahiḥ krauñcadvīpo dviguṇaḥ syātsvamānataḥ

Shri Narayana said: Around Kusha-dvipa lies a vast encircling ocean of ghee. Beyond it, outside, is Krauncha-dvipa, twice its size in its own measure.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.8.13.3)

क्षीरोदेनावृतो भाति यस्मिन्क्रौञ्चाद्रिरस्ति च । नामनिर्वर्तकः सोऽयं द्वीपस्य परिवर्तते

kṣīrodenāvṛto bhāti yasminkrauñcādrirasti ca | nāmanirvartakaḥ so'yaṁ dvīpasya parivartate

It shines, surrounded by the ocean of milk; within it stands Mount Krauncha, which gives the continent its name and pervades the whole island.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.8.13.4)

योऽसौ गुहस्य शक्त्या च भिन्नकुक्षिः पुराभवत् । क्षीरोदेनासिच्यमानो वरुणेन च रक्षितः

yo'sau guhasya śaktyā ca bhinnakukṣiḥ purābhavat | kṣīrodenāsicyamāno varuṇena ca rakṣitaḥ

That mountain, whose flank was once cleft open by the power of Guha (Kartikeya), is bathed by the ocean of milk and guarded by Varuna.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.8.13.5)

घृतपृष्ठो नाम यस्य विभाति किल नायकः । प्रियव्रतात्मजः श्रीमान् सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः

ghṛtapṛṣṭho nāma yasya vibhāti kila nāyakaḥ | priyavratātmajaḥ śrīmān sarvalokanamaskṛtaḥ

The lord of that continent shines under the name Ghritaprishtha — the glorious son of Priyavrata, honored by all the worlds.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.8.13.6)

स्वद्वीपं तु विभज्यैव सप्तधा स्वात्मजान्ददौ । पुत्रनामसु वर्षेषु वर्षपान्सन्निवेशयन्

svadvīpaṁ tu vibhajyaiva saptadhā svātmajāndadau | putranāmasu varṣeṣu varṣapānsanniveśayan

Dividing his own continent into seven parts, he gave it to his own sons, appointing them as lords over the regions named after them.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.8.13.7)

स्वयं भगवतस्तस्य शरणं सञ्जगाम ह । आमो मधुरुहश्चैव मेघपृष्ठः सुधामकः

svayaṁ bhagavatastasya śaraṇaṁ sañjagāma ha | āmo madhuruhaścaiva meghapṛṣṭhaḥ sudhāmakaḥ

He himself went and took refuge in the Blessed Lord. His sons were Ama, Madhuruha, Meghaprishtha, Sudhamaka,

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.8.13.8)

भ्राजिष्ठो लोहितार्णश्च वनस्पतिरितीव च । नगा नद्यश्च सप्तैव विख्याता भुवि सर्वतः

bhrājiṣṭho lohitārṇaśca vanaspatiritīva ca | nagā nadyaśca saptaiva vikhyātā bhuvi sarvataḥ

Bhrajishtha, Lohitarna, and Vanaspati. That continent's mountains and rivers, seven of each, are renowned throughout the earth.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.8.13.9)

शुक्लो वै वर्धमानश्च भोजनश्चोपबर्हणः । नन्दश्च नन्दनः सर्वतोभद्र इति कीर्तिताः

śuklo vai vardhamānaśca bhojanaścopabarhaṇaḥ | nandaśca nandanaḥ sarvatobhadra iti kīrtitāḥ

The seven mountains are celebrated by the names Shukla, Vardhamana, Bhojana, Upabarhana, Nanda, Nandana, and Sarvatobhadra.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.8.13.10)

अभया अमृतौघा चार्यका तीर्थवतीति च । वृत्तिरूपवती शुक्ला पवित्रवतिका तथा

abhayā amṛtaughā cāryakā tīrthavatīti ca | vṛttirūpavatī śuklā pavitravatikā tathā

The seven rivers are Abhaya, Amritaugha, Aryaka, Tirthavati, Vrittirupavati, Shukla, and likewise Pavitravatika.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.8.13.11)

एतासामुदकं पुण्यं चातुर्वर्ण्येन पीयते । पुरुषऋषभौ तद्वद् द्रविणाख्यश्च देवकः

etāsāmudakaṁ puṇyaṁ cāturvarṇyena pīyate | puruṣaṛṣabhau tadvad draviṇākhyaśca devakaḥ

Their sacred water is drunk by the people of that continent's four varnas — named Purusha and Rishabha, and likewise Dravina and Devaka.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.8.13.12)

एते चतुर्वर्णजाताः पुरुषा निवसन्ति हि । तत्रत्याः पुरुषा आपोमयं देवमपां पतिम्

ete caturvarṇajātāḥ puruṣā nivasanti hi | tatratyāḥ puruṣā āpomayaṁ devamapāṁ patim

These people, born into the four varnas, dwell there. The inhabitants of that place worship the deity who is of the very nature of water, the Lord of the Waters —

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.8.13.13)

पूर्णेनाञ्जलिना भक्त्या यजन्ते विविधक्रियाः । आपः पुरुषवीर्याः स्थ पुनन्तीर्भूर्भुवः स्वरः

pūrṇenāñjalinā bhaktyā yajante vividhakriyāḥ | āpaḥ puruṣavīryāḥ stha punantīrbhūrbhuvaḥ svaraḥ

— worshipping with devotion, cupped hands full of water, through various rites, reciting: "O Waters, who are the very vital essence of the Purusha, who purify, pervading Bhuh, Bhuvah, and Svah —"

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.8.13.14)

ता नः पुनीतामीवघ्नीः स्पृशतामात्मना भुवः । इति मन्त्रजपान्ते च स्तुवन्ति विविधैः स्तवैः

tā naḥ punītāmīvaghnīḥ spṛśatāmātmanā bhuvaḥ | iti mantrajapānte ca stuvanti vividhaiḥ stavaiḥ

"— may those illness-destroying waters, touching the earth with their own nature, purify us." Thus, at the close of this mantra recitation, they praise the deity with various hymns.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.8.13.15)

एवं परस्तात्क्षीरोदात्परितश्चोपवेशितः । द्वात्रिंशल्लक्षसङ्ख्याकयोजनायाममाश्रितः

evaṁ parastātkṣīrodātparitaścopaveśitaḥ | dvātriṁśallakṣasaṅkhyākayojanāyāmamāśritaḥ

Thus, beyond and surrounding the Ocean of Milk, lies a continent extending thirty-two lakh yojanas in breadth.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.8.13.16)

स्वमानेन च द्वीपोऽयं दधिमण्डोदकेन च । शाकद्वीपो विशिष्टोऽयं यस्मिच्छाको महीरुहः

svamānena ca dvīpo'yaṁ dadhimaṇḍodakena ca | śākadvīpo viśiṣṭo'yaṁ yasmicchāko mahīruhaḥ

This continent, matching its own measure, is encircled by the Ocean of Curd-water; this is the distinguished Shaka-dvipa, in which the Shaka tree grows.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.8.13.17)

स्वक्षेत्रव्यपदेशस्य कारणं स हि नारद । प्रैयव्रतोऽधिपस्तस्य मेधातिथिरिति स्मृतः

svakṣetravyapadeśasya kāraṇaṁ sa hi nārada | praiyavrato'dhipastasya medhātithiriti smṛtaḥ

That tree, O Narada, is the very reason for the region's name. Its ruler, a scion of Priyavrata, is known by the name Medhatithi.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.8.13.18)

विभज्य सप्त वर्षाणि पुत्रनामानि तेषु च । सप्त पुत्रान्निजान् स्थाप्य स्वयं योगगतिं गतः

vibhajya sapta varṣāṇi putranāmāni teṣu ca | sapta putrānnijān sthāpya svayaṁ yogagatiṁ gataḥ

Having divided the land into seven regions bearing his sons' names and establishing his seven sons there as rulers, he himself took to the path of Yoga.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.8.13.19)

पुरोजवो मनःपूर्वजवोऽथ पवमानकः । धूम्रानीकश्चित्ररेफो बहुरूपोऽथ विश्वधृक्

purojavo manaḥpūrvajavo'tha pavamānakaḥ | dhūmrānīkaścitrarepho bahurūpo'tha viśvadhṛk

The seven sons were Purojava, Manahpurvajava (or Pavamanaka), Dhumranika, Citrarepha, Bahurupa, and Vishvadhrik.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.8.13.20)

मर्यादागिरयः सप्त नद्यः सप्तैव कीर्तिताः । ईशान ऊरुशृङ्गोऽथ बलभद्रः शतकेशरः

maryādāgirayaḥ sapta nadyaḥ saptaiva kīrtitāḥ | īśāna ūruśṛṅgo'tha balabhadraḥ śatakeśaraḥ

The seven boundary mountains, as well as seven rivers, are likewise celebrated. The mountains are Ishana, Urushringa, Balabhadra, Shatakesara,

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.8.13.21)

सहस्रस्रोतको देवपालोऽप्यन्ते महाशनः । एतेऽद्रयः सप्त चोक्ताः सरिन्नामानि सप्त च

sahasrasrotako devapālo'pyante mahāśanaḥ | ete'drayaḥ sapta coktāḥ sarinnāmāni sapta ca

Sahasrasrotaka, Devapala, and finally Mahashana. These seven mountains have been described, along with the seven rivers' names.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.8.13.22)

अनघा प्रथमाऽऽयुर्दा उभयस्पृष्टिरेव च । अपराजिता पञ्चपदी सहस्रश्रुतिरेव च

anaghā prathamā''yurdā ubhayaspṛṣṭireva ca | aparājitā pañcapadī sahasraśrutireva ca

The rivers are Anagha first, Ayurda, and likewise Ubhayaspṛishti, Aparajita, Panchapadi, and likewise Sahasrashruti.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.8.13.23)

ततो निजधृतिश्चोक्ताः सप्त नद्यो महोज्ज्वलाः । तद्वर्षपुरुषाः सर्वे सत्यव्रतक्रतुव्रतौ

tato nijadhṛtiścoktāḥ sapta nadyo mahojjvalāḥ | tadvarṣapuruṣāḥ sarve satyavratakratuvratau

and Nijadhriti — thus the seven exceedingly radiant rivers have been named. All the people of those regions bear the names Satyavrata and Kratuvrata,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.8.13.24)

दानव्रतानुव्रतौ च चतुर्वर्णा उदीरिताः । भगवन्तं प्राणवायुं प्राणायामेन संयुताः

dānavratānuvratau ca caturvarṇā udīritāḥ | bhagavantaṁ prāṇavāyuṁ prāṇāyāmena saṁyutāḥ

and Danavrata and Anuvrata — thus the four varnas of that land are named. United through the practice of pranayama, they worship —

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.8.13.25)

यजन्ति निर्धूतरजस्तमसः परमं हरिम् । अन्तः प्रविश्य भूतानि यो बिभर्त्यात्मकेतुभिः

yajanti nirdhūtarajastamasaḥ paramaṁ harim | antaḥ praviśya bhūtāni yo bibhartyātmaketubhiḥ

— the Supreme Hari, freed from the qualities of passion and ignorance — he who, entering within all beings, sustains them through his own vital powers.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.8.13.26)

अन्तर्यामीश्वरः साक्षात्पातु नो यद्वशे इदम् । परस्ताद्दधिमण्डोदात्ततस्तु बहुविस्तरः

antaryāmīśvaraḥ sākṣātpātu no yadvaśe idam | parastāddadhimaṇḍodāttatastu bahuvistaraḥ

"May that inner controller, the Lord himself, in whose power this universe rests, protect us." Beyond the Ocean of Curd-water lies a further, vastly extensive continent,

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.8.13.27)

पुष्करद्वीपनामायं शाकद्वीपद्विसङ्गुणः । स्वसमानेन स्वादूदकेनायं परिवेष्टितः

puṣkaradvīpanāmāyaṁ śākadvīpadvisaṅguṇaḥ | svasamānena svādūdakenāyaṁ pariveṣṭitaḥ

— known as Pushkara-dvipa, twice the size of Shaka-dvipa, encircled by an ocean of sweet water equal to its own extent.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.8.13.28)

यत्रास्ते पुष्करं भ्राजदग्निचूडानिभानि च । पत्राणि विशदानीह स्वर्णपत्रायुतायुतम्

yatrāste puṣkaraṁ bhrājadagnicūḍānibhāni ca | patrāṇi viśadānīha svarṇapatrāyutāyutam

Where stands the great lotus Pushkara, its brilliant petals resembling flame-crests, spotless, its golden petals here numbering ten thousand times ten thousand.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.8.13.29)

श्रीमद्भगवतश्चेदमासनं परमेष्ठिनः । कल्पितं लोकगुरुणा सर्वलोकसिसृक्षया

śrīmadbhagavataścedamāsanaṁ parameṣṭhinaḥ | kalpitaṁ lokaguruṇā sarvalokasisṛkṣayā

This indeed is the very seat of the glorious Lord, the Supreme Being (Parameshthin, i.e. Brahma), fashioned by the Guru of the worlds out of his desire to create all the worlds.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.8.13.30)

तद्द्वीप एक एवायं मानसोत्तरनामकः । अर्वाचीनपराचीनवर्षयोरवधिर्गिरिः

taddvīpa eka evāyaṁ mānasottaranāmakaḥ | arvācīnaparācīnavarṣayoravadhirgiriḥ

In that continent there is but a single mountain, named Manasottara, forming the boundary between the inner and outer regions.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.8.13.31)

उच्छ्रायायामयोः सङ्ख्यायुतयोजनसम्मिता । यत्र दिक्षु च चत्वारि चतसृषु पुराणि ह

ucchrāyāyāmayoḥ saṅkhyāyutayojanasammitā | yatra dikṣu ca catvāri catasṛṣu purāṇi ha

Its height and length are each reckoned at ten thousand yojanas. There, in the four cardinal directions, stand four cities —

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.8.13.32)

इन्द्रादिलोकपालानां यदुपर्यर्कनिर्गमः । मेरुं प्रदक्षिणीकुर्वन् भानुः पर्येति यत्र हि

indrādilokapālānāṁ yaduparyarkanirgamaḥ | meruṁ pradakṣiṇīkurvan bhānuḥ paryeti yatra hi

belonging to Indra and the other guardians of the quarters, above which the sun rises. There, circling Mount Meru in reverent circumambulation, the Sun travels,

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.8.13.33)

संवत्सरात्मकं चक्रं देवाहोरात्रतो भ्रमन् । प्रैयव्रतोऽधिपो वीतिहोत्रः स्वात्मजकद्वयम्

saṁvatsarātmakaṁ cakraṁ devāhorātrato bhraman | praiyavrato'dhipo vītihotraḥ svātmajakadvayam

circling through the wheel of the year, measured by the days and nights of the gods. The ruler of that continent, a descendant of Priyavrata named Vitihotra, established his own two sons —

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.8.13.34)

वर्षद्वये परिस्थाप्य वर्षनामधरं क्रमात् । रमणो धातकिश्चैव तत्तद्वर्षपती उभौ

varṣadvaye paristhāpya varṣanāmadharaṁ kramāt | ramaṇo dhātakiścaiva tattadvarṣapatī ubhau

— in the continent's two regions, each in turn bearing the name of his own region: Ramana and Dhataki, both becoming the lords of their respective regions.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.8.13.35)

कृताः स्वयं पूर्वजवद्भगवद्भक्तितत्पराः । तद्वर्षपुरुषा ब्रह्मरूपिणं परमेश्वरम्

kṛtāḥ svayaṁ pūrvajavadbhagavadbhaktitatparāḥ | tadvarṣapuruṣā brahmarūpiṇaṁ parameśvaram

He himself established them thus, devoted to the Lord just as their forefathers had been. The people of those regions worship the Supreme Lord in his form as Brahman —

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.8.13.36)

सकर्मकेन योगेन यजन्ति परिशीलिताः । यत्तत्कर्ममयं लिङ्ग ब्रह्मलिङ्गं जनोऽर्चयेत् । एकान्तमद्वयं शान्तं तस्मै भगवते नमः

sakarmakena yogena yajanti pariśīlitāḥ | yattatkarmamayaṁ liṅga brahmaliṅgaṁ jano'rcayet | ekāntamadvayaṁ śāntaṁ tasmai bhagavate namaḥ

— worship through action-based yoga, well and thoroughly practiced. Let a person worship that emblem, the Brahma-linga, which itself consists of ritual action — homage to that Blessed One, who is singular, non-dual, and at peace.